Life After Bead Fest

Hello friends!

Wow what a crazy ride it's been. I can't believe Bead Fest Philly was just under 2 weeks ago! So let's catch you all up on my last couple of weeks.

A view outside of my car window on the trip to PA. This photo doesn't do it justice at all. The clouds looked like feathery wings outstretched. It was really magnificent!

One of the signs by the show. Lol, we couldn't resist taking a photo. 

Here is a shot of our booth. Ricky and I got in and set up in 2 hours. That was record timing from last year where it took us 4.5 hours to set up! Guess we are getting good at this huh?!

Staci and I shared a booth again this year. Here you can see Barbara Bechtel holding down the fort.

A pic of Staci and me at our booths.

We also shared our power house corner with Starry Road Studio and Wooly Wire Etc. It's so much fun to share a space with these awesome women. I wish I had clicked some more photos of their booth's, but I dropped my phone face down 2 days before the show :( You will have to hunt them down on facebook to view their photos when they get their albums posted ;)

I made myself a quick necklace with one of my "Eye See You For All That You Are And Will Become" focals. Nothing like making yourself a piece of jewelry at the show cause you didn't have time beforehand ;)

Here is a better photo I took out in the sun yesterday ;)

I just LOVE this necklace!

Our Courtyard party on Saturday night was rained out, but that didn't keep our bunch of wild gals from partying inside!

I had an awesome class with my students! I clicked some quick photos with Ricky's phone.

Our mother and daughter team that came to class together wearing their finished jewelry :)

Ellen didn't have pierced ears so she purchased some clip earring backs at the show that matched perfectly! 

Our two classmates that met at the class and became great friends. I love how beads bring us all together :) Didn't their pieces turn out awesome?!

Here are a few photos of my students work from class.

I love how everyone's piece is so unique.

While we were at the show, Don, Karen's husband gave her a special birthday present he comissioned me to make for her. May I present, "Gypsy Magic". Holy wow, huh?! It took me about 3 days to design this necklace since I really wanted to bring all of the design elements together.  I am so pleased with the finished piece!

Here is all of my loot from the show :D

From left to right: Hands of the Hills, Maku Studio, Diane Hawkey,  A clay piece created by Staci's son Aiden,Thea Elements, Linda Landig, Kristen Stevens,  Starry Road Studio, S L Artisan Accents, Green Girl Studios, Humble Beads.

Wooly Wire from Wooly Wire Etc.

More Wooly Wire :D

Ceramic eye house from Diane Hawkey.

Polymer clay beads by Second Surf and eye charms from Cynthia's sweet daughter :)

I wanted to wear some of my pieces right away so I put them on chain and sari silk. Awesome, huh?!

The not so fun part of the tail end of show time, the creative mess. This is my upstairs studio. I am STILL getting things organized and back into their places.

In the meantime after show also means SUPER MASSIVE SHOP UPDATES! All of these beauties are in my Etsy shop. It was just easier and faster to update there first. Some of them are in my .com shop as well. I will get everything moved over shortly.

I also marked some beads and jewelry on sale. I will be creating new jewelry designs soon. I can't wait to get back to designing as well as making. 

See you soon!

xo Genea

Benefit Auction for Andrew Thornton of Green Girl Studios

Hello friends!

If you may not have heard Andrew Thornton of Green Girl Studios had some severe health issues that caused him to rack up some hefty medical bills. Andrew is an independent artist and doesn't have health insurance so you can imagine just how much his visits cost. Many in our community have come together to help raise money for his cause. I would like to do the same by offering an auction right here on my blog :)

Although I have just met Andrew through my e-mails to him I can sense his kind caring nature  through his replys. I have collected Green Girl Studios art beads for many years and I couldn't imagine not collecting more due to the high costs of paying medical bills or loss of inspiration due to stress. I can't imagine going through what he has, and want to do what I can to help him keep doing what is in his heart.  Artists are amazing creative spirits and without their pieces the world would be  much less magical place.  Please join me in helping out one of our creative souls :)

Here is how to bid. Please leave your name, e-mail and the amount you would like to bid on the piece. Bidding will be open from now until 12am on Sunday(so pretty much Monday morning). I will contact the winning bidder and ask them to paypal their bid directly to Andrew's paypal account. Once I get a conformation from Andrew that the amount has been paid I will ship the item with insurance.

 Silk cording is more teal and blue variegated than the picture demonstrates.

Necklace can be worn long or short by tying silk cording.

Here are the details for the piece...

Winding layers of streaky and glittery blue, Streaky glittery green, yellow green, aqua blue, turquoise blue, and olive green ruffle into a freeform flower shape. Inside the flower sit treasures of tinkly bells, swirling spacers, seed beads, swarovski crystal and flowers. Up the base meticulously macramed leaves,drops, bells, seed beads and crystals are tightly bound into a fantastical design.

STATS:
Vortex flower focal is 38mm across. Pendant dangles a drastic 2 3/4"(5.08cm) from top to bottom. Pendant ring is 7mm. Silk necklace cord is 33"(83.82cm) long and can be worn long or tied as a short choker. 

 Happy Bidding!

Much love,

Genea